I could go today to Home Depot and buy a generator. Doing no comparisons between different suppliers, I can be fairly sure I'm paying a fair price. With no emergencies going on, generators are essentially a commodity. But during an emergency, supply becomes scarce in very specific areas. In such cases, I might go to Home Depot and pay triple what I'd pay at Lowe's, but without shopping around I don't know that. It's an emergency, and I don't have the time to shop around. Additionally, in that time maybe everyone runs out of generators. Gouging takes advantage of this. It sends the wrong price signals. A generator shortage in the Gulf Coast doesn't equate to a national shortage. But it might cost more to send a delivery truck off the normal schedule, and with the damaged infrastructure along the way there may be additional costs. Unable to raise the price, they don't ship them and people continue to go without.So, what's wrong with gouging?
Are there any negative consequences of prohibiting gouging?